High accident rate: Govt to blame

According to a report by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in the Daily Newswatch Newspaper of December 25, 2013 (pages 1 & 4), between December 19 and 23, there were ‘’214 road crashes, 107 deaths and 1,398 injuries”.

Between December 24 and 25, another 11 deaths were recorded in just two states (Lagos and Cross River). The above figures were the ones that were officially documented. You can imagine the numbers that were not recorded.

Yet, the FRSC and other agencies affirmed that the above showed a rare accident free record compared to the same period in 2012 (The Nation, January 8, 2014, pages 42 & 43).

Despite all the announced efforts of the government and its agencies at the Federal and State levels, the rate of road crashes and fatalities is still disturbingly high in Nigeria, far more than several other countries I know. The reasons however are not far-fetched.

•It is only in Nigeria that we see a Federal Government quarrelling with the state gvernment over who repairs or reconstructs roads and vice versa.

•It is only in Nigeria that Federal and state government agencies quarrel over who issues Driver Licence and the National Assembly keeps quiet.

•It is only in Nigeria that the Federal and state government agencies competes over who regulates and supervises the Driving Schools. (FRSC, VID, SON or State Driver Industries).

•It is only in Nigeria that government agencies play the role of regulator and operator concerning Driver Education. (FRSC and state agencies).

•It is only in Nigeria that people learn driving without going to Driving Schools.

•It is only in Nigeria that people obtain Driver licence without going to Driving Schools.

•It is only in Nigeria that people obtain Driver licence without going through rigorous theory and practical tests. Some do their tests with cash.

•It is only in Nigeria that government officials don’t do tests nor follow other protocols before obtaining or renewing Driver licence

•It is only in Nigeria that government agencies struggle and compete to get the contracts for Corporate Drivers Training, a job meant for Driving Schools alone because of the practical training content.

•It is only in Nigeria that there are struggles on which of the government agencies have the right to control traffic on which road. (Federal or state).

•It is only in Nigeria that Drivers rely on the weapon of bribery and connections to violate traffic rules with impunity.

Having mentioned some of the factors responsible for the high rate of accidents in Nigeria, I would like to equally mention some of the solutions.

•The Presidency and the National Assembly should study the relevant laws relating to the functions of the Ministries of Transport (Federal and State), Vehicle Inspection Officers, Federal Road Safety Commission and Driving Schools as to streamline the functions in a way that will not give room to conflicts and unhealthy rivalry. This will go a very long way in continually promoting safety on roads. Although, I don’t know if the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007 was signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or not, the repetitions are disturbing. For example, Section 10, Subsection 3, functions a and h, c and j, b and I, k and q are word for word repetitions. This is embarrassing in a document of such magnitude.

Comparing the contents of the Federal Road Safety Commission Decree 1988, the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2004, and the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007, it is undeniably true that there is a clear case of dangerous and controversial overloading of functions.